George l



(No Model.)'

G; L. ARTZ.

T0]? PROP FOR. OARBIAGES.

No. 283,553. Patented Aug. 21. 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFEICE.

, g GEORGE L. ARTZ, or ooLUMBns, onto.

Q TOP-PROP FOR CARRIAGE-IS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,553, dated August 21, 1883,

Application filed June 14, 1883. (No model) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, GEORGE L. An'rz, a

citizen of the United States, residing at O0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Top-Prop Blocks for Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of topprop blocks generally sold to the trade, and which are usually driven over the propiron in the construction of the vehicle. \Vhen made of wood, they have been found objec tionable, because of their tendency to split or break when driven over the prop-iron. lVhen made of rubber only, they were found unnecessarilyexpcnsive, and when made with a wooden bottom section, having a dovetailed head over the bored prop-hole to receive a rubber cushion, these "objections were only aggravated.

The object of my improvements is to perfect a prop-block of a construction analogous to this last-mentioned form, which shall avoid the danger of splitting, and be manufactured at reasonable cost. I do this by making the wooden part or blank of two sections to avoid the boring of the hole, the bottom section having a recess grooved out longitudinally, which is covered by the top section, carrying a dovetailed orT head, over which the rubber cushion is drawn. '1 also line the recess, on one or more sides,with ribbed surfaces of rubber, to prevent the prop-iron from gripping or sticking to the sides as the block is driven over it, and to produce a firm held without binding hard enough to split or break the parts. This construction is fully hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents, in longitudinal section, a top -prop embracing my improvements; Fi 2, a cross-section thereof; Fig. 3, a perspective showing the top rubber, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of the elastic sheath.

A is the lower section of the wooden blank, and B the upper section, the former being grooved to form the recess a, for the reception of the prop iron, and the latter properly formed with a longitudinal T-head, I), both sections being sawed from lumber of suitable I may finish the made block seen in Fig. 3

by varnishing, or by a covering of leather or composition. I saw the blank strips out of lumber of the proper thickness, groove the bottom section, as described, turn into proper shape, and cut the strips to the proper length for the block. As is easily understood from the description and drawings, this method obviates all necessity for boring a hole for the prop-iron, and that, in connection with furnishing a cushion for the bows of thetop to rest upon, is the objectaccomplished by my improvement.

The recess a is lined with strips, 0, of ribbed or projecting rubber on one or more sides, to grip the iron and avoid splitting, as before mentioned. The fibers or grain of the wood. are crossed in the construction described, rendering it almost ilupossibleto split the block. The finished block is driven over the prop iron, and the connections made in the usual manner.

I claim? 1. A top-prop block for vehicles, in which the rubber cushion is drawn over and held by a T-head on the top section of a wooden blank of two joined sections, the lower one of which is grooved :longitudinally, to form, in connec tion with the top one, a hole or recess for the prop-iron, the parts being constructed and arranged substantially as described, for the pur poseset forth.

2. In atop-prop block for vehicles, the combination, with the rubber cushion C and the top section, B, (of a wooden blank of two sections,) having ,a T or dovetailed head, I), of the bottom section, A, having the recess a, and an elastic sheath, D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

r 3. In a top-prop block composed of a top hand in the presence of two subscribing witrubber cushion for the bows, and a. wooden nesses. blank having'u hole or recess for the prop- 1 1 r iron, .the said hole provided with a surface of GLORGL AR 5 ribbed or projecting rubber, c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I 11 ave hereul no set my \Vitnesses:

CHARLES TAPPAN; v J. W. MO NEY. 4 

